Eastleigh survived a nervous finale to beat bottom-of-the-table Thurrock 3-2 at the Silverlake Stadium in the Blue Square Bet South.

The Spitfires led 3-0 at half-time through Graeme Montgomery, Billy Tsovolos and Jamie Brown and even had a penalty saved from new signing Damian Scannell.

But Thurrock – boosted by a host of quality new signings - hit back twice in the last eight minutes through Nathan Ashton and Jamie Guy (penalty) to set home nerves jangling.

“I was concerned, but fortunately there was only a minute to go (when Thurrock scored their second),” said Eastleigh boss Ian Baird.

“We’re just happy to get the three points. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how you get them.”

Winger Jonathan Davies plundered a goal in each half as AFC Totton returned to winning ways following their great FA Cup adventure.

Davies squeezed both goals into a six-minute spell either side of the break as the Stags secured a 2-0 win over Tommy Widdrington’s Hemel Hempstead Town at the Testwood Stadium.

Victory leaves Totton second in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division, a point behind leaders Leamington with three games in hand.

Lee Wort gave Sholing a 24th-minute lead in the Evo-Stik South & West top-two battle at Thatcham, but the Boatmen were pegged back by a late Sam Flegg leveller in a 1-1 draw.

Sholing host Yate Town on Wednesday.